Method of smelting and refining copper ores and compounds.



"RALPH BAGGALEXOF rir'rsnono, PENNSYLVANIA. y

' I I Application filed April 7,1905. Serial lilo- 254347.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it.known that 1, R ALPH BAGGALEY, of Pittsburg, Allegheny -county, Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Method of Snielting and Refining (lopper Ores and Compounds, of which-the iollowing is a full, clear, and'exact description.

My invention relates to a continuous processof smelting and refining ores and compounds of copper, or cop- ,perin association with other metals, whereby sulfids,

oxids and'carbonates can be changed into refined copper or pig copper more rapidly and with less cost than has been possible heretofore.

The series of steps by which this result is secur ed in accordance with my invention is as follo'ws:-

First. The first step of my process is a smelting operation, by which without carbonaceous fuel or with very little carbonaceous fuel, ammonium previous calcining and waterconcent'ration,, I reduce the ore "to of the converting' process.

a matte containing preferably about 40' per cent. of copper. I For this purpose I use a furnace or'convert'er ,having smelting twyers and bessernerizing twyers.

and capable of withstanding the ordinary-temperatures duce a predetermined charge of sulfid ores, together with oxid and carbonates ifdesired, with'snitable flux; I to combine with the bases to be separated, the charge .of ore being so selected and proportioned with relation "to its content of iron and sulfur, as to admit oi the proc- .;ess being carried on. and to convert the bases'into sili cates withoutthe use of carbonaceous fuel, or'only of conversion, and provided also with a pipe or fine for small amount of such fuel, beyondthe amount necessary toignite and thoroughly start the process In this furnace the ore is smelted by the smelting twyers and the matte which sinks to the bottom after smelting is enriched by the converting-twyers to a point where the resulting slag-will not contain a greater proportion of copper and valuable metals than can be thrown away. without undue loss. .For this purpose it is desirable to enrich the matte so that in ordinary cases it will contain about40 per cent. of copper, but the proportion may vary at different localities and will be regulated by the surrounding conditions, such as the cost of transportation and the cost of fluxes, etc. Second. The second step or element offmy process relates to the utilization of the slag from the smelting and the proportion of values which the operator can afford to lose in it determines the degree of concentrtv tion to which the matte is carried in the first operation.

' Specification of Letters Patent. I

extraneous heat to the bath, as in Into such furnace I'introseamin 6,1907,

Third. The matte produc'ed by the first operation above mentioned is transferred in amolten state from the tap-hole of the furnace and lrom the settlin'g well preferably by gravity through inclined troughs to another furnace or converter provided with converting .blast it is enriched until practically all of the basesto be separated are removed. Fluxes may be added in this operation if necessary, and means for supplying be provided if desired. v I Fourthl 'The slag from the operation last mentioned,

contains necessarilya considerable percentage oico'pper.

bins,. from which it is taken as required and res'melt'ed i x for the extraction of the values which it contains. The

furnace last mentioned may be provided with a swing ing trough by which the matter may be delivered into the step No. 5, may

the spout of the third furnace, .or by swinging the trough I into other positions the slag may be delivered to a tilting pot or directly to-the molds of the conveyor bywhich it is to be-carried to the bins. m

Fifth. The matte from the secondrefining operation above mentioned being freedfrom the bases, containsabout 'percent'. of copper. While still molten itis transferred, preferably by gravity, as above described,

to another furnace or converter provided with converting twyers, and adaptedto'withstand the temperature the introduction of flame. Thefiame is preferably capable of regulation, and is adapted todevelop and maintain. heat snfficient to prevent the bath from chill- 1901' ing at the latter. portion of the blow' and prefe iably the blast in thisvessel the matte is enriched to the point at which-practically all of the sulfur, bismuth, antimony, selenium, tellurium and other objectionable impurities are eliminated; as can be determined by test.- ing with a spectroscope or by the appearance of the flame to the eye of the experienced operator. I have found that to eliminate the last vestig e of these objectional impurities it is necessary to'blow the charge to' the point wherea small amount of oxid 0r sub-oxidof' copper will be formed in the metal. At or near the end of the blow the floating impurities are removed from the surface of the bath-by skimming or otherwise. The collection and removal of the floating impurities is 'made possible by the. heating action ofthe flame, whereby the temperature of the bath'is regulated and maintained at will;

Sixth." The copper producedby the last described furnaces q'ieration has been kept by the flame hot, enough. to be readily poured by tilting the converter. Chilling of the. copper. particularly atv the tap-holes, which has been so olflectionalile and dangerous heretoiore, does not occur. The copper l'rom that converter is removed. preferably by gravity to another furnace, the flame in which is capable of regulation, and it is there poled to -named step oi the operation, what is known in the art as pig copper or black copper may be produced.

My invention may be modiliod. For example, the operations above numbered 3 and 5 may be consolidated both being performed at oneo'peration in a single l'm" nace or converter. I preier, however, to conduct thent separately since by doing so better commercial results are in my judgment obtained.

I claim:

.l. The method herein described of producing copper. which consists in stll)j(('iiil lg ltt a combined smelting and converting operation copper ores or-compounds routainitrs: combustible impurities sulllciont in amount to generate the required heat without any substantial addition of fuel, re moving the sla543and applying .it in'molten condition to heating purposes. transferring the matte in molten condition to another chamber, subjecting it therein to an airblast, and eliminating the bases from the metal; then transferring it still molten to a heated furnace and retining it. therein, by subjecting it to agitation with l'Qllllll,.' gases; substantially as described.

2. The herein described method of producing copper which consists in subjecting to a'combined smelting and converting operation,copper ores or compounds containing combustible impurities sufficient in amount to generate the required heat necessary in maintaining a-smelting operalion without the addition of carbonaceous fuel transferring the'mattc thus produced in molten form to another converting vessel, subjecting it therein to an air-blast and eliminating the iron contained in the matte by feeding into it silicions ores; thereafter eliminating any remaining sult'ur. arsenic. bismuth.selenium, tellurium orsuch like impurities by means of a simple oxidizing blast; substan tially as herein described. Y

.'t. The herein described method of producing which consists in subjecting to a combined smelting and converting operation. copper ores or compounds containing combustible impurities sufiicicnt in amount to generate the required heal llCtftL-Sttl') in maintaining a smelting operation \villiont the addition of carbonaceous fuel; transferring the matte thus produced in molten form to another converting vessel. subjecting it threin to an air-blast and eliminating; the iron contained in the matte by feeding into it silieious ores; returning in molten form the converter slaes thus produced. and which contain valuable mineral.

to the vessel in which the first fusion for the elimination of the metalloids has been produced: thereafter eliminating any remaining sulfur, arsenic bismuth selenium, tellurium or ueh like impurities by means of a'shnple oxidlzim." blast: substantially as described.

4. The herein described-method of producing copper which consists in subjecting to a combined smelting; and converting; operation copper ores or compounds containing combustible impurities sutlicient in amount to generate the required heat necessary in maintaining a smelting operation without the addition of carbonaceous fuel; transferring the matte thus produced in molten form-to another converting vessel; subjecting it therein to an air-blast. and eliminating the iron contained in the matte by feedin: it silieious ores; returning in molten form tlIQ COIH rter slugs tllllS ])l'0tli\(l(l, and which contain valuable mineral, in the vessel in which the lirst fusion for the elimination of the metalloids has been produced; thereafter eliminating any remaining sultur. arsenic. bismuth. selenium, tellurium or suelrlilte impurities by means of a simple oxidizing blast; transferring the blister copper thus produced in molten t'orm into a preheated refining i'u'rnace, which is provided with the auxiliary heat of an oil or a gas flame above the level of the molten bath and refitting it therein for the elimination of suboxid'; substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

' RALPH BAGGALEY.

Witnesses 'lLLlA M. Kituuwrrticu. LYNN \Vimio'r Snt'rtt.

copperinto- 

